Liveaboard Diving in Roca Partida

Mexico Dive Site : Roca Partida

Liveaboards to San Benedicto, part of the Socorro Islands, or officially known as, the Revillagigedo Archipelago, will be escorting divers to one of the best dive areas for seeing large pelagics. The Socorro Islands are a group of four volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean about 400km (250mi) off the coast of the southern tip of Baja California; a southwestern state of Mexico. This archipelago is a popular dive area and most popular for the different pelagic species which you will have a chance to see and dive with. The other three islands are Socorro Island, San Benedicto, and Clarion; all incredible dive sites in their own ways. Roca Partida is the smallest of the islands, it is a pinnacle at a height of 30m (100ft).

Roca Partida is a year-round dive area, but each season brings its own gems. The calmest seas are from November to May with the waters being around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit) in November, 21 degrees Celsius (69 degrees Fahrenheit) in February and back up to 25 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in May. These winter months also bring with them the main spectacles; the thousands of humpback whales which stopover here during their migration to and from Alaska, and numerous Pacific manta rays. The visibility here depends solely on the plankton in the water which depends on the moon, but in general, the visibility varies from 15 - 50m (49 - 164ft).

Roca Partida is a more advanced diving area as sometimes there are strong currents and big waves, and most dive spots are quite deep, however, each liveaboard to Roca Partida has their own minimum dive experience level, most expect to have your Advanced Open water with at least 50 logged dives, but there are a few which only need you to have your Open Water and no minimum logged dives. Please keep this in mind.

What You Can See

Roca Partida liveaboard dive cruises provide divers with a chance to see a large variety of marine life to satisfy all divers with a unique experience. It is open water dives and the unsteady conditions, with currents coming and going and large waves coming and going, many pelagic species are attracted to this area. When diving down you will first be met by large schools of Jacks and Tuna which live around the pinnacle. 20 meters (60 feet) down the pinnacle there are multiple caves, which you can explore, which inhabit lobsters and different species of sharks. Some of the most popular sharks you will run into here are Oceanic white tip, schooling Scalloped Hammerhead sharks, and on an extremely lucky day Whale Sharks. Other inhabitants are the impressive Giant Pacific Manta Rays which fly through the water with wingspans of around 7 meters (21 feet), they are extremely curious and come close to the divers for an amazing experience.

This archipelago of islands is part of a protected biosphere reserve and many conservation organizations are working around here to preserve the unique wildlife which inhabits and pass here. Socorro diving area is not a coral reef, so do not expect bright colors everywhere, but once you spot the spectacular marine wildlife you won't be able to focus on much else anyways!

Getting To Roca Partida

This island is only accessible via a Mexico liveaboard, and because this island is mostly uninhabited, this is the perfect way to get away from the busy cities and get a good quality experience with some of the best the oceans have to offer. Liveaboard.com currently offers six different liveaboards that visit these sites, all different to suit anyone's desires.

There are two ports from which the liveaboards we have to offer depart from, these are Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. These are both cities in the state of Baja California and located in the most Southern municipality; Los Cabos in Mexico. The closest international airport to these two cities is Los Cabos International Airport, which has flights arriving from the United States, Canada, and other Mexican Cities.

The diving at Roca Partida was fantastic: Mantas on every dives and all kinds of sharks! Schools of hammerheads passing by. A baitball of fish, and sharks who were hunting there....WOW....that was a big show!